NEWJEANS
The five members of NEWJEANS stated on Thursday that they would be willing to return to their agency, ADOR, under one condition: that it be restored to the state it was in before the heated legal battle with the company began in April 2024.
“The root of this entire conflict lies in the audit launched by HYBE in April of last year,” said the members’ legal team during the third hearing of the civil lawsuit filed by ADOR seeking to confirm the validity of its exclusive contract with NEWJEANS.
The representatives explained that HYBE had accused ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin of attempting to seize management control of the company and engaging in misconduct, but none of those accusations were cited in the official reasons for her dismissal.
They added that the recent dismissal of charges by police concerning Min Hee Jin’s alleged breach of trust clearly shows that “she was acting within her rights as CEO of ADOR.”
“ADOR today is filled with HYBE executives who ousted Min Hee Jin,” the representatives stated.
“The ADOR that the members signed with, the one that cared for and supported them, no longer exists. It’s like using the same phone with a different SIM card: it’s not the same device anymore. Likewise, the ADOR the members trusted is gone.”
“Just walking near the company building makes their hearts race with anxiety. They’re undergoing treatment for depression. How can anyone expect such young girls to go on stage just because there’s a contract? Do the defendants have no right to personal dignity?” their legal team continued.
The lawyers also shared excerpts from a petition written by the members, which stated: “Asking us to go back to ADOR and HYBE is like asking a bullying victim to return to the same school and endure it again.”
They went on to make a powerful emotional comparison about the loss of trust: “It’s like the mother who raised us was kicked out, and now the abusive father is telling us to come back, promising to give us a better mother.”
“That said, this doesn’t mean the members are completely opposed to returning,” the representatives clarified. “If ADOR were to return to being the agency they trusted and relied on, the members would be willing to go back, even if someone told them not to.”
Back in November, the five members of NEWJEANS, MINJI, HANNI, DANIELLE, HAERIN, and HYEIN, announced their intention to terminate their exclusive contracts with ADOR. While the legal battle has dragged on for months, the Seoul High Court recently upheld a ban preventing the members from pursuing solo activities.
The case will now move into mediation, with a closed-door session scheduled for August 14 at 2 p.m. If an agreement is reached, it will carry the same legal weight as a court judgment.
If mediation fails, a provisional trial date has been set for October 30.
Journalist: Shawn
Translator: Shawn
Source: Korean Media
